Wednesday, August 29, 2012

A Weekend at the Ranch House

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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As we drove up the twisting drive to the Hearst Castle, I looked at Sweet Mister and said, "Gee, it's good to be home again.  Will it just be the two of us, or are we expecting guests this weekend?"  This week, I thought that I would share a typical evening at the ranch with William Randolph Hearst.  The guests should be gathering in the living room in just a short while for dinner...

We're here.  Some of the staff will bring our luggage up to the house...

...don't forget anything!  We don't want to have to make extra trips up and down these steps!



It's nice to have a great patio.


Ah, here we are at the ranch house.

Come on in.  

Make yourselves at home... 





 Cozy, don't you agree?  Yep, definitely cozy.  Right.

Mr. Hearst will join us through this 'secret hallway' which leads to the stairs to his private quarters. 
Come on in to the dining room...
  

...there will be eight for dinner.
  

We always dine casual here on the ranch...


...yes, definitely casual.
   

The Booth's Real Old Blue Willow is the only pattern used at the ranch.  After all, it's all very casual here.  It's always about the opportunity to visit with interesting people.  The dinnerware was special to Hearst because it had belonged to his mother.
  
After dinner, we'll mosey on into one of the entertaining rooms for cigars...





...and then, we'll saunter into the next room...



...for a few rounds of pool (or is it billiards...I can never tell) before heading for bed.  Just another low key, laid back evening at the ranch...hope that you've enjoyed yourself.  Do you remember how to get to your room?  Next week we'll take a look at some of the guest quarters!

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday.  I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY."   Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

When I think of August, I think windows of opportunity to travel to new spots.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Hope to see you there!



Wednesday evening is the twenty-fourth edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".   Excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!



You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  KC has just released her 5th studio CD project, "The Tag Hollow Sessions".  The sold out CD release concert was this past weekend.  "The Tag Hollow Sessions" is available on iTunes or through her website.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!  
Entertaining Women
Entertaining Women

Hello, I'm Cherry Kay I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience.

18 comments:

  1. I'm at a loss for words. I'm just sitting here in a daze....waiting for the right words to come. Oh, my goodness!!!! What a fancy place!!!!! Wouldn't it be a hoot to actually live there? I don't know, though...it would be a real pain in the patootie if you couldn't remember whether or not you locked the back door and had to get up in the middle of the night to FIND IT!!!!!!! :-) I love that long table in the dining room. Gorgeous! I would be one happy little camper to be able to set a table in those surroundings! Thank you for sharing a part of your castle/ranch adventure!!! SO cool!!!

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  2. What a fun post! I sure enjoyed reading it and seeing the pics. At least you were able to get pics. We visited the Biltmore last week and no cameras were allowed inside. Thanks for taking us along to your trip to the "ranch".

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  3. What a magnificent place, wow! All those intricate wood carvings inside leaves me in awe. Thanks for taking us along, Cherry Kay!...Christine

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  4. Halloooo....Cherry Kay, I'm still looking for my bedroom. Was it left at the trophy room or right at the smoking room? Please phone or email as I'm very tired and longing for my bed!
    PS Just think of what YOU could do with that dining room!

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  5. Did you say there will be 8 for dinner or 88? Love the tour and the grand scale of your ranch house :)

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  6. Love your home on the ranch! What a grandiose place you've created! I would be the butler! or even the scullery maid.... ha. Isn't it just gorgeous. I remember it so well. I also love the fabulous china because it just seems to belong in that splendor! Thanks for sharing your trip with us.. be blessed. xo marlis

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  7. You are too cute! "The ranch" LOL...
    Wow, wow and wow on interior! I've seen random pictures at the estate before but never anything like this! The blue willow dinnerware is to die for! That table seems to go on forever! Truly an amazing place!
    Thank-you for sharing your pictures of it! I hope you both found time to kick off your shoes and enjoy a fire in the evening!! LOL

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  8. I'm packing, I'm packing!!!!! Thank you for this invite my dear friend, how could I miss this spectacular invitation to this castle, which has me lost for words and in awe of it all, to even comment on the images here! STUNNING and MAGNIFICENT, it's all I can say and thank you for sharing it with us. I love the gorgeous china. Enjoy your weekend.
    FABBY

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  9. My but there is a lot of color and texture here. I was sitting so far way from you that it was hard to visit at this very long table, but I did enjoy the privilege of being there!

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  10. I remember standing in that dining room and thinking you better like the person at your side, because you will not be chatting with anyone at the end of the table.

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  11. Thanks for the tour of this magnificent mansion...I cracked up seeing the French's Mustard and Heinz Ketchup!

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  12. Oh, thank you for taking us along. We stopped at Hearst Castle many years ago, but the lines were so long to buy admission tickets, that we decided to move along down the road. ;-)
    Love that long table and the Blue Willow china. Wouldn't you love to have that table to do a tablescape on?
    Have a great holiday weekend.........Sarah

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  13. What a tour! Thanks for sharing with us. And, I do love the dinnerware and I am so surprised to see the bottles of condiments on the table!!

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  14. Let me get my evening gown on and I'll be right down for dinner at this lovely table. Beautiful blue china, I would sit and enjoy the meal and visit with lots of friends. Thanks for the tour.

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  15. What a tour. hard to believe that some one had, has this kind of wealth. Oh course this was before income tax and lots of other tax, Tax, see what it has done to us. Thanks for the tour and thanks for stopping by. Richard from My Old Historic House

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  16. A true American castle. Reminds me of the Biltmore. It's so nice to see this through your camera's eyes!

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  17. They really put the ketchup and mustard on the table, lol!
    Amazing place! Really big table!

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  18. Such an amazing visit.

    Great to have you with me at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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